Benedict Cumberbatch To Voice Smaug in 'The Hobbit'

EXCLUSIVE: After reporting today that Luke Evans will play Bard in the Peter Jackson-directed The Hobbitand wondering who’ll voice the dragon Smaug, Deadline can now tell you that it will be Benedict Cumberbatch. He’ll portray Smaug via motion capture. He is already on the picture, providing the voice of the character Necromancer. This comes as Cumberbatch is getting buzz for his supporting performances in the Steven Spielberg-directed War Horse. And Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, in which he stars opposite Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and Colin Firth. After drawing raves for his performance in Danny Boyle’s stage production of Frankenstein, Cumberbatch was just set to star in the five-part miniseries Parade’s End. Cumberbatch continues his role as Sherlock Holmes on the BBC/PBS series, which just won the BAFTA for Best Drama. He is represented by UTA and Conway Van Gelder.

62 Comments

Love him. Knew it was just a matter of time before he became a huge star here.

JohnDoe • on Jun 16, 2011 5:19 pm

Awesome news. But please God, do not let Smaug have a human like face. That would be a death-knell. How exactly does one motion capture Smaug? Hmm…

Becca • on Jun 16, 2011 7:27 pm

Motion capture doesn’t necessarily have to result in a human-like character. For example, the dancing scenes in Happy Feet were danced by real people. I didn’t see any penguins waddling around with human faces in that movie :)

Alex • on Jun 16, 2011 5:52 pm

Are there any actors left in the UK or are the gals now playing all the guy’s roles?

Misha • on Jun 17, 2011 2:34 am

LOLLL

efron • on Jun 16, 2011 6:13 pm

Why oh why couldn’t a part be found for Aragorn aka Viggo Mortensen
I am devastated.

Therdmello • on Jun 16, 2011 7:51 pm

Um, because Aragorn was a child when the events of The Hobbit took place. That would be weird… Aragorn in short pants. No bueno.

NR • on Jun 16, 2011 8:24 pm

Probably because Aragorn (aka Estel) was only TEN YEARS OLD during the time of The Hobbit and I just don’t think Viggo has the range to play a ten year old kid. Duh!

bec • on Jun 17, 2011 5:45 am

because he was only a kid when the story from the hobbit happens.

BobSF • on Jun 17, 2011 9:56 am

Correction – Aragorn was DEFINITELY a full-grown man during the events of the Hobbit – Tolkein is very clear on this in the LOTR epilogue and other writings. Remember that Aragorn is descended from the Numenorians, who lived extremely long lives compared to regular men (200+ years). Aragorn lived something like 300 years, not kidding, it’s in the writings/canon.

Tar Palantir • on Jun 17, 2011 10:53 am

Not quite.

You need to re-check your facts. As Tolkien clearly states in the appendix of LOTR, Aragorn was born in the year 2931 of the Third Age. Bilbo’s adventure was 2941-42. So indeed, Aragorn was only ten years old when Bilbo first arrived in Rivendell.

It’s true that Aragorn had a very long lifespan (210 years to be exact). But most of those years (120) were spent as king — after the events of Lord of the Rings.

Bottom line: There is no way Viggo can play Aragorn in the Hobbit films, unless it’s part of the “bookend” scenes that take place during/after the war of the ring.

BobSF • on Jun 17, 2011 10:01 am

Wrong – he was fully-grown and participated in some of these events, according to the later writings / canon. Maybe PJ is keeping him a secret..?

BobSF • on Jun 17, 2011 10:18 am

My bad – Aragorn was 10-11 when main Hobbit journey takes place, but the 2 movies were supposed to reference the span leading up to LOTR – Strider protecting The Shire, etc etc. They could cameo him in there…

Frodo Baggins • on Jun 17, 2011 12:17 pm

Just going by film cannon, Aragorn says he’s 87 in Two Towers. That takes place about 60 years after The Hobbit, that would put him in his late 20s during this story. Not too young to kick some ass, but probably too young to be played by 53 year old Viggo.

Old Badger-brock • on Jun 17, 2011 4:34 pm

Not quite. Bilbo’s 111th birthday party occurred 60 years after his ‘There and Back Again’ adventure. Although Jackson’s movie did not convey this, there were another 17 years between Bilbo’s departure and Frodo’s.

Chronology: Aragorn was born in March 2931 T.A. The quest of Erebor began in April 2941 T.A. with Thorin & Company’s departure from Bag End. The quest of the Ring began in September 3018 T.A. with Frodo’s departure from Bag End.

Lynne • on Jun 16, 2011 7:01 pm

Sherlock and John on the big screen! He’s a splendid actor with a great voice. But yeah I don’t get how you motion capture Smaug.

Also it feels like 75% of UK’s tv actors are in this.

Hence • on Jun 16, 2011 8:28 pm

@ efron Because Gandalf hadn’t met Aragon yet in the time of the Hobbit.

Nicole • on Jun 16, 2011 8:35 pm

Awesome! He is on a role!

iansane • on Jun 16, 2011 9:03 pm

I hope this guy has the right voice. He doesn’t look like it but could be surprising. I was impressed with how golum sounded just like the read along record I remembered from child hood and I could only assume that Leonard Nemoy would have to play the voice of smaug because his voice natually sounds exactly like the smaug I remember as a child.

Benedict just does not look like he would have the voice of an old ancient and angry dragon that makes the mountain rumble and shake when he yells “I am smaug!!”

So he definitely has the capability. I just hope he’s mean and loud with it. Smaug was not a gentlemanly chap with a European accent like most of what I’ve listened to so far. The reading of jabberwocky posted by one of his fans is really good.

I’ll be glad to hear him in “The Hobbit”

Felagund • on Jun 17, 2011 11:00 am

Actually, Tolkien did intend for Smaug to sound like an upper-class snob — at least until he becomes angry and violent.

Smaug: “You have nice manners, for a thief; and a liar.”

Frodo Baggins • on Jun 17, 2011 12:26 pm

You pictured Smaug with an american accent? I was thinking Anthony Hopkins or Timothy Dalton.

Ariel • on Jul 12, 2011 4:15 am

His voice resembles that of Alan Rickman’s.

TheDark Knight • on Sep 2, 2011 11:04 pm

If you actually hear Benadict you’ll understand, yeah he’s skinny but the dude has a cold, booming, deep voice you would not expect to come from him

Bobbi • on Jun 16, 2011 9:26 pm

Ian M. had mentioned he’d seen a bit of the test Benedict did and said both face and voice for the role (tho he didn’t say at that moment just what the role was, but we could kinda guess)..were “electrifying”.
Am sure he’ll look like a dragon – those usually use a hint of the actor, but not much more than that. Whatever it’s The Hobbit – they are going to do it right! And they’re lucky to have one of the greatest do this character. He will give it his all, as he always does.

Holly • on Jun 16, 2011 9:43 pm

Best actor in the world in my opinion. Incredible on stage. His Creature in Frankesntein is the best live performance I have ever seen. Will stay with me for ever.

tomandshell • on Jun 16, 2011 10:33 pm

Aragorn would have been about 8 or 10 at the time of The Hobbit. Don’t you think Viggo is a little old to play the part, even if they wrote the character into the Rivendell scenes?

BobSF • on Jun 17, 2011 9:57 am

Wrong – see comment above.

BobSF • on Jun 17, 2011 10:19 am

Sorry, not that wrong. He could appear if more of the gap years are covered..

Oliver Lacon • on Jun 16, 2011 11:05 pm

Love any reference to the new Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, the remake of the greatest Spy film / mini-series of all time.

But Benedict is not OPPOSITE Gary Oldman – he’s way junior to him. Benedict plays Peter Guillam, who is Smiley’s dullish associate.

Control said “There are three of them and Percy”. And Peter Guillam is NOT one of those 4.

Daniel • on Jun 17, 2011 1:07 am

Cumberbatch is perfect for the job, he has a great voice

Ty • on Jun 17, 2011 2:00 am

Voice-over work like this might be the best way to get around his limitations as an actor – “cerebral, upper-class Brit” is his strong suit & his attempts to step out of that, most recently in The Whistleblower, have not impressed. He’s very good in his niche though, and judging from the projects he’s been choosing (Parade’s End, Tinker, etc.), he knows that.

Max • on Jun 17, 2011 11:43 am

He is an actor almost without any limitations. I am sure you didn’t see any of his stage work, for example, his recent run at the NT as Frankenstein’s monster. Also, check the movie Starter for 10, he can do great comedy as well. It’s quite interesting that the Whistleblower has not really been publicly released, have you seen the whole movie before you criticized his performance? He’s quite humble and very harsh on himself, don’t use his high expectation to himself to attack a great actor.

Ty • on Jun 18, 2011 4:33 am

Of course I’ve seen The Whistleblower (at an advance screening), otherwise I wouldn’t have commented on his performance (his accent I thought was particularly shakey). And yes, I also saw him at the NT as the creature and as Dr. Frankenstein (and in Hawking and in the Van Gogh doc, Sherlock, etc.) You know, it is actually possible for an informed person to disagree with you.

As I mentioned in my post, I think he is a great actor but, yes, I do think he has limitations. Not being 100% “he rules at everything!!!” does not mean you are “attacking” him.

flabber • on Jun 19, 2011 3:53 am

Limitations – rubbish. The actor is amazing. This Ty guy is talking out of his butt. I;ve seen him on stage a few times and on screen numerous times and he’s a tremendous talent.

Chill out • on Jun 19, 2011 8:45 pm

No actor is completely without limitations. Plenty of tremendous talents, such as De Niro, Depp, Streep, etc. have stumbled in certain types of roles. Unless, of course, your point is that unlike any other actor in history, this dude is basically possessed of Godlike omnipotent skill.

What limitations?? • on Jun 17, 2011 2:14 pm

OK, ummmm.. “limitations”?? Obviously you haven’t seen him as The Creature in Frankenstein. Or in the sitcom he did with Hugh Laurie, Fortysomething. Or in The Last Enemy. Or heard him as a hapless pilot in the radio comedy Cabin Pressure. You can check out some of this stuff on YouTube. I think the man has an incredible range of talent and is one of the finest actors of his generation. Period.

G • on Jun 17, 2011 3:12 pm

Actually Frankenstein is a good example – BC’s performance of the monster tended towards grandeur and the cerebral. He couldn’t have played it the way Jonny Lee Miller did (which is totally fine – the different ways they interpreted the performance was what made it so great. JLM couldn’t pull off BC’s “cold genius” roles as well either – BC blew JLM away as Dr. Frankenstein, for example).

It’s true that BC has yet to really do something against type. He has a long career ahead of him, so we’ll see what happens.

MJ • on Jun 18, 2011 1:37 am

You must have seen a different Frankenstein than I did, maybe in an alternate universe? Again, I would suggest you check out some of his other work, such as Fortysomething, which is out on YouTube. There was NOTHING “gentlemanly” or “cerebral” about that!

Everyone has an opinion. Just deal with it. • on Jun 18, 2011 3:34 pm

LOL. It is so funny how fangirls/boys can’t handle the slightest bit of criticism of their idol, or refuse to acknowledge that the subjective nature of art means people will have different opinions of the same performance. Even a comment that overall compliments Benedict Cumberbatch as an actor and clearly isn’t kneejerk haterism results in snide defensive responses from stans.

Adam • on Jun 17, 2011 7:44 am

Because Aragorn isn’t in The Hobbit.

David Olsen • on Jun 17, 2011 8:54 am

Wait a second. Why is the Necromancer anything more than an off-screen character?

BobSF • on Jun 17, 2011 9:59 am

Necromancer / Sauron will have some back-story from Silmarillion/Unfinished Tales, etc featured in the movies. So f’ing awesome.

Max • on Jun 17, 2011 9:38 pm

Yeah…I start to suspect that in the second installment of The Hobbit, the part Necromancer won’t just appear in the form of a voice.

Arnold • on Jun 17, 2011 9:22 am

Why dint PJ offer the Smaug role to Serkis, he can perform well in mocap…Still a good news, anyway

Elros • on Jun 17, 2011 11:04 am

Probably because he is already playing Gollum, as well as being 2nd Unit Director. Besides, his voice isn’t really right for the part of Smaug.

china • on Jun 17, 2011 2:48 pm

Cumberbatch is a superb actor and very versatile. If you know his work then you’ll realise that. He’s perfect for the role but I too would rather see him on screen as Bard the Bowman. Evans isnt in the same league as Cumberbatch.

Fan • on Jun 17, 2011 4:00 pm

Cumberbatch has fast become my favourite actor so I’m happy to see him getting another great role. He’s an actor of great depth. His fan base is growing and growing which is also nice to see. I hope the National Theatre produce a DVD of hsi Creature performance in Frankenstein. Astounding performance.

essie • on Jun 17, 2011 10:24 pm

Cumberbatch has a stunning voice. Very happy he’s got the roles. He’s a brilliant comic actor too and I love his comedy series Cabin Pressure. He’s got a growing army of female fans called the cumberbitches (cute).

savvy • on Jun 18, 2011 12:03 am

I;d have liked to have seen Cumberbatch as Loki. He’s got a similar acting background to Hiddleston but is a more passionate actor. Hiddleston’s a bit cold and wishy washy and even posher!.

If they ever film Neil Gaiman’s Sandman I hope Cumberbatch plays Dream. He’d also be a great Flashman or Raffles.

Musicman • on Jun 18, 2011 2:49 am

I think this might be the first time in any of Sir Peter’s movies that I’ve seen where I felt he’s gotten the casting wrong. Benedict Cumberbatch would have been a brilliant Bard the Bowman. I could so see him shooting down that dragon and I’ve never even seen this guy Luke Evans in anything. As for Smaug himself, there is only one actor I deem capable of bringing a truly evil voice to that character, two words: TIM. CURRY.

Bobbi • on Jun 18, 2011 8:56 am

Benedict and “limitations” don’t exist. I may of missed it but has anyone mentioned “Hawking”..he was nominated for a BAFTA for that. That is on the internet. Also a docu-drama “Van Gogh” which just won an award in the last couple weeks. Praise was given Benedict for his excellence in the role. That is also on the internet.
He, himself, is a middle-class kid. Parents as actors but they didn’t make big money. His grandmother helped with schools. When he went to Tibet to teach English for 6 months after school he worked in a factory to make the money.
Also one little comment i saw from someone who had seen “Whistleblower” said he had an amazingly good American accent.
There’s a short made, hoping someday to be a film, where he plays twins – one having a good job, etc..the other complete opposite. He is a gambler and discheveled and very far from any “upper class Englishman” a character could get.
So – anyone who thinks he only can play one type of character hasn’t seen what he can do (including stage work)and there is much more to do. An actress who worked with him in Starter For Ten said he was as good at comedy as he was drama.
Martin Freeman said even when he’s working with him he stands back and just watches thinking – he’s really, really good.

Bobbi • on Jun 18, 2011 9:10 am

Sorry for going on so long, but just remembered an article from a critic in Baltimore.

Now word has leaked out that Cumberbatch will appear in “The Hobbit,” too. Answering questions about “The Hobbit” at the TV BAFTA awards, Freeman divulged that Cumberbatch had joined Peter Jackson’s two-part movie.

Cumberbatch, standing next to him, wouldn’t specify the role. But if you saw Cumberbatch as the Creature in Danny Boyle’s stage production of “Frankenstein,” you know that he can play just about anything. His Sherlock is seductively, playfully cerebral; his Frankenstein’s monster was magnificently primal — and heartbreaking and lyrical, too. (The opening passage, the Creature’s “birth,” was a rocketing flight of imagination: one performer acting out the evolution of man — or, it turned out, a cracked mirror-image of man. Throughout the rest of the production, he was terrifying in his fury and heartbreaking in his isolation. Cumberbatch made the Creature’s need for love and companionship achingly palpable.)

The next-best news to come out of the BAFTAs is that Cumberbatch and Freeman are shooting a new set of “Sherlock” mysteries right now.
********

Everyone talks about the cereberal maybe because he speaks so well or something. But there is even heart to Sherlock and it will be showing up more I’m sure.
But there are scenes in Van Gogh where he goes right to the heart and the padded-room scene..those are real tears. In fact just a little moment when he is talking about being a failure – the eyes – the tears in the eyes at the end…
Someone had said – when he cries, I cry. You don’t do that when the actor is only “cereberal”. Ben is passionate about what he does and he has such depth. He has said mediocrity is something that would make him angry.
And there are pages (and no..i won’t quote them..whew) of comments from others who have worked with him who have great admiration for him as an actor and a person.